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T; w. FOSTER. COMBINED MATCH BOX AND CIGAR TIP CUTTER. No. 517,546.

' Patented Apr. 3, 1894.

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UNITED) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE W. FOSTER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

COMBINED MATCH-BOX AND CIGAR-TIP CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,546, dated April 3, 1894.

Application filed November 11, 1893. Serial No. 490.669. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, THEODORE W. FOSTER, of Providence,in the countyof Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Match-Box and Cigar-Tip Cutter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact des cription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices adapted to be carried in the users pocket and to contain a supply of matches.

The objects of the invention are, to provide such a device with a most convenient and efficient cutter for removing the tips of cigars, and to this end, itconsists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box constructed inaccordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same; Fig. 3 a similar View showing the cover open and the knife retracted. Fig. 4. is a similar section taken through a modified form of the device.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

' The match box illustrated in the drawings, and the body of which is lettered A,is preferably of the usual rectangular shape, flat .in cross section and is provided with a hinged cap piece B for closing one end. A spring 0 is adapted to hold the cap piece closed or open as the case may be. For instance as illus trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it tends to hold the cap piece open, while in Fig. 4, the spring tends to hold the cap piece closed by engaging a lugc thereon but, whenthe cap piece is thrown clear back, the pressure is brought above the pivotal center of the cap piece and the spring retains it open. Such constructions are common and well known and hence need no more minute description.

In the top of the cap piece I form a circular opening E of proper size for the reception of the end of a cigar and provide a slanting knife moving with the cap piece and adapted to slide across the inner side of said opening to sever the end of the cigar when inserted therein, and to efiectually close the opening when the cap piece is closed, in order to prevent the entry of dirt, &c. I prefer to provide a spring knife F having its rearend pivotally connected to thebodyof the match box at G forward of the pivots of the cap piece, and on the. cap piece provide a guide bar or guide H which retains the forward edge of the knife against the inner side of the cap piece. The effect of this construction, which will be readily understood from Figs. 2 and 3, is to cause the forward edge of the knife to advance across the opening as the cap piece is closed and to retreat as the cap piece is opened as illustrated in Fig. 3. The tendency of the spring knife is of course to straighten out, and the effect of this, is to close the cap piece, especially after it has been partially closed, and this may be utilized to close and retain the cap piece closed as illustrated in the construction shown in Fig. 4, but where it is desired to have the cap piece spring open when the snap catch is released, the springO should be made to bear against the rear portion of the knife and ata point above its pivotal centers, and for convenience I have cut away the center portion of the. spring knife at the rear end and reduced the upper end of the spring so that it may enter said cut away portion and force the cover wide open. Should it not be desirable to have the removed tips of the cigars enter the body of the match box,-a separate compartment may be provided for their reception, as illustrated in all of the drawings. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a roughened or file surface bridges the cap piece below the opening, and a separate opening I is formed for the removal of the cuttings. In Fig. 4

however, the cap piece is provided at thebot- I tom of the box, and forms the closure for a separate chamber in which the cigar cutting may be retained if desired and the bottom of which is formed with a file surface for scratching matches. In either instance,Iprefer to employ a spring knife, the tendency of which is to retain the cap piece closed, as this shape of knife insures its forward edge'being held against the inner side of the cap piece, thereby insuring a perfect cutting. The cutting edge of the knife referred to, is usually made concave and co operating with the rounded side of the cigar tip opening, makes a very neat shear out, as will be readilly understood.

The device it will be seen is cheap, simple, easily manufactured and may be applied to any of the ordinary match boxes now in common use and having a hinged cap piece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A pocket match receptacle consisting of the body portion, the cap piece hinged thereto, having the cigar tip opening in its top face, the guide extending transversely across the cap piece, and the spring knife passing between the guide and cap to close the cigar tip opening, and jointed directly to the body portion forward of the hinge of the cap piece, whereby the cigar tip opening is closed by the knife when the cap piece is closed and opened as the cap piece is opened; substantially as described.

2. The combination with the match receptacle and cap piece hinged thereto and having the cigar tip opening therein, of the spring knife hinged to the body of the receptacle at a point slightly removed from the hinge of the cap piece, and the guide for holding said knife against the top of the cap piece where- 30 by said knife in straightening out will tend to hold the cap piece closed; substantially as described.

3. In a pocket match box, the combination with the hollow body portion having the open end, and the hollow cover hinged to the body portion at one edge and having its sides and edges adapted to close against the sides and edges of the body portion respectively to inclose matches projecting from the box and having a cigar tip opening in its top face, with a guide within the cover and in proximity to the inner side of its top, of a knife working between the guide and top of the cover to open and close the cigar tip opening, and a direct hinge connection between the knife and body of the box at a point forward of the cover hinge, whereby the knife is inclosed Within and held against lateral movementby the Walls of the cover; substantially as described.

THEODORE \V. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

SAML. II. BAILEY, ERNEST L. FULLER. 

